The Tribune

The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation’s cruise and maritime department has introduced an initiative designed to increase onshore spending by visiting cruise ship staff and crew.

The new crew programme features a familiarisation exercise that allows cruise ship employees to experience a taste of the hospitality, culture and tourism product of The Bahamas.

The initiative was officially launched earlier this year at a People-to-People Romance Tea Party at Government House, which was attended by a number of cruise ship captains.

Since then, several cruise line officials have been hosted to luncheons and tours of Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant, plus its chocolate factory, cigar factory and wine cellar.

Carla Stuart, the Ministry of Tourism’s senior director of cruise and maritime, branded the programme “an amazing opportunity”.

“Our intention is to co-ordinate programmes that incorporate cultural exposure, tours, shopping coupons for various interests of the crew, and social and sporting activities,” she explained.

“It is important that we continue to reinvent ways to target this growing market. In that way, we are ensuring that we maximise opportunities for our country. Our ministry is grateful for the co-operation and high interest which we have received in this programme thus far.”

Andrew Malone, director at United Shipping, said: “We have a very close bond with the cruise lines because we always stay one step ahead of the ships. Opportunities come at short notice, and expectations have to be met in order to keep customer satisfaction. It’s in this vein that we are happy to have the crew programme. It is long overdue.”

Cruise lines that have been hosted so far include Celebrity Equinox; Celebrity Silhouette; Mein Schiff 1; Norwegian Bliss and Sunrays Motor Yacht.

Ministry of Tourism officials are now developing a crew discount initiative to boost spending at Bahamian businesses. Other initiatives will include crew incentive awards, Inter-ship sports and heritage games.